Car

Today we go and pick me up a Toyota Sienna!  We sold the Mazda to a friend yesterday.  We'll get hand controls installed on the Sienna which involves getting a consultation as to what kind of hand controls I should get, special training, then retaking my driving test and getting a new license.  It doesn't seem like it should be too long before I can drive.  It's been over a year!

We're getting a minivan for a few reasons.  Joe's main reason is that the wheelchair easily fits in the back.  I love the space in the front, and I grew up with a minivan and I like big cars.  I'm hoping someday we'll fill the seats with kids!  And I also convinced Joe that if we go on a vacation someday, say, to Ocean Shores, with kids, a small car will not be able to accomodate the wheelchair plus luggage.  And suppose we get a baby someday?  Then we have even more gear!  He said I have a point.

Kids wise...we've had a few opportunities come up and Joe has said "no."  Each time it has broken my heart.  Currently we have a girl who is a friend of a friend who might be coming into the system, in which case Joe has volunteered to take her for an emergency 30-day placement.  She's in the hospital right now though.  We were asked to take her in before she went to the hospital, but we said a resounding NO!  We cannot take in a child outside of the legal system, even though it's not perfect!  We need to be protected, the kid needs to be protected, the birth parents need court orders that set boundaries for them...anyway.

I bought a baby jail thing because Eli comes and visits and gets into everything and poor Angela has to chase him around.  Also, at least once a week Heather visits with her baby and another friend visits with her baby.  They're too young to get into stuff but it won't be long before they're exploring!  This is what I got and I love it!  It seems fairly big to me even without the extensions.  Eli loves it (and Angela and I love it too, hehehe).  I wanted something sturdy enough that he can pull himself up on it.  It's very sturdy.  And easy to wipe down which was important to me since Heather is so careful not to get Zari sick.  I also wanted something I could set up by myself and I think I can if I'm running at 50% or higher.

Time for us to leave for the dealership!